UNDERFOOT conditions should suit Short Respite who looks a good bet to begin this season in the same positive style she ended the last by winning the Tote Placepot Stakes at Leicester today.

Michael Bell's charge ran just twice in her juvenile year. On the first occasion in September she finished well down the field at Warwick on good to firm ground which she clearly did not like.

However, it was a different story at Newcastle a month later when the Brief Truce filly put in a much better effort to beat Alessandro Severo a length.

Not only was Short Respite stepped up in trip to seven furlongs but she also showed she preferred a bit of cut despite hanging to the left throughout the final furlong.

There should be further improvement to come and she looks a fair bet at today's odds.

Spring Pursuit beat all bar Middlethorpe at Doncaster last week and can go one better in the Maureen Beighton Birthday Handicap.

Middlethorpe made all the runningon Town Moor and Spring Pursuit just could not quite peg the winner back being beaten threequarters of a length.

Nevertheless it was a decent effort by the Richard Price-trained six-year-old, who can gain quick compensation.

Over jumps at Exeter, Firetree can continue Jonjo O'Neill's fine run with victory in the Raleigh Gilbert Memorial Handicap Hurdle, while Tony McCoy can edge closer to the record by booting home Miss Cool in division two of the Robert Webb Canada Travel Agent Novices' Hurdle.